Keep the V8 or get a 300Tdi??

[davidlandy]

I would still say for reliability go for the diesel over the v8 lpg. Its a proper factory made solution , not an aftermarket bolt on bit.  Seen many lpg kits not working properly.

Also you have to watch out these days for the quality of the gas, there is a lot of foreign muck out there that can damage your engine if useed over a long period.  I know this from experience as via work we used to run lpg foden tractors - their cat engines were failing due to excess wear within 300,000kms which on a truck engine is very,very low.

 

[The Fat Controller]

which makes me wonder why the 3.6  v8 diesel iceburg one at gaydon i mean from the late 70s never made it into production. 8-[

the iceberg engine was dropped due to production costs and production space.the engine had reached the production stage when all satalite assembly was closed down which ment more space and a new pruction shed needed at solihul all at the usual time when no extra outlay was available.
J E engineering were happy as the crackshafts from the iceberg engine helped them produce their new 3.9 and 4.2 engines before LandRover

[davidjmiller]

I've been watching this thread with interest. I started my LR "career" with a TD (19J) 110, then moved onto a gassed 3.5 L V8 and sold that over the summer to be replaced with a 300 Tdi disco. I thought about buying a V8 disco but decided against due to fuel costs and some of the issues below.

So, a couple of comments from my own experience:-

 - the LPG set-up on my old 110 was done by the previous owner who was a registered gas fitter (it was allowed in those days). I think it was a single point system and I added an electronic ignition. I had nothing but trouble keeping the LPG and petrol systems consistently running well together. I'd take it to the specialist and within weeks one of them would be causing trouble (I think a carb overhaul might have been in order). A multipoint system installed by a specialist may well give a better system. I reckon I was getting about 12 mpg on petrol and maybe 10 on gas.

 - different people's V8's seem to react diffferently to water. Mine started coughing if we got within 100 metres. I tried the glove thing which did not seem to help much - and disintegrated within 6 months (£30 not well spent) and motercycle chain wax was not much better. Now I listen to my Tdi and think "that's the noise of reliability and a decent mpg".

 - in years gone by I've been involved in these discussion and waxed lyrical about how the V8 sounded but at the end of the day the a LR is functional vehicle and not a performance one. My Disco is an automatic!! If I win the lotto I'll buy a petrol RR or an Aston martin but I think all my LR's from now on will be diesel.
 
 - I know I have the option of sticking veg oil in which will improve the running costs even further.

A question: why are there some many 50th anniversary V8 in for sale?????

Just some personal thoughts.

David

[mentalmoshio sophs V8i]

50th v8 90 very nice but still silly money to buy.

as for condition diesel are always gonna have a hard life compared to the v8 (garage sales man words there) . most highest specd motor are always gonna be a v8 and not a diesel

[steve10]

hmm... its getting to be a "derv Vs Petrol" debate here.. i suspect the basis of the first post is:

Due to travelling more miles, should i spend £1200 on a gas conversion, or sell up and put it towards a diesel? - (correct me if i`m wrong)

personally i would think hard, i`m currently facing a decision, theres a nice v8 with the gas conversion coming up for sale soon, but for me, its a case of is it worth hanging on to the vehicle i know (+ mods) and now trust over the chance on a new one?

cost of fuel is 50/50, gas/veg oil 50pish, petrol cheaper than diesel, but you get a few more miles out of a derv... if your going for a diesel, i`d definatley look for a 200tdi, strong engine, (check gearbox over though!) and cheap as chips as everyone prefers the look of the 300 front end... but i spend more time under or in mine so front end looks are irrelevant really... this wil leave a bit in the kitty for those things that you are bound to get with a new car.. the wear and tear items that didnt look too bad when you first looked at it.. the a frame ball joint, the other "irritating rather than urgent" jobs...

but then theres the route of better the devil you know... i assume yours is in overall good condition? i would love the gurgle of a v8, but prefer the simple nature of a derv, performance wise, its adequate, its  a 4x4, not a track car!

Mine is in reasonable nick, its had the boot floor done but i think the rear crossmember will need doing and possibly the n/s front inner wheel arch. Probably not to much drama for someone who knows what they are doing but not that econimical to do if I have to pay someone. At least I know what to look for in the next one........

RRB - i didn't realise that LPG systems are only £500 but I am not in the slightest bit able when it comes to mechanical things so I would have to pay for somebody to fit it.

I have been out today in it and love the V8 sound and will be sorry to see it go but i think i will advertise it for sale while it still has 5 months MOT and see what happens. If I can get £500ish for it then I think I will go the derv route

Thanks to everyone for their thoughts on this, much appreciated. I'll let you know what happens!!!

Steve

[Guardian.]

  what a sad day
keep it dont let her go :lol:

[davidjmiller]

what a sad day
keep it dont let her go :lol:

leave 'im alone now. He's made his mind up so the last things he needs is for us to sow a seed of doubt.

D

[lurch_917]

go for the deisel for numerus reasons 1, they are better swimmers  2,what you going to do when mr american has taken over every oil company 3, if he dose take them over stick 2 fingers up and grow your own 4, snap a belt on your v8 and its 2 heads gone on a deisel its only one and as for the speed of a v8 how fast do you want to drive over rocks and crap in my little mind theirs no contest v8 = motorways  deisel = mud and thats what most people buy them for   

[jjsaul]

4, snap a belt on your v8 and its 2 heads gone on a deisel its only one

snap a belt on your diesel its a head gone...snap a CHAIN on a v8....well...exactly!

[mentalmoshio sophs V8i]

4, snap a belt on your v8 and its 2 heads gone on a deisel its only one

snap a belt on your diesel its a head gone...snap a CHAIN on a v8....well...exactly!

thats one of the reasons why i bought mine. if u got a diesel ur going to need zues cogs to solve the problems of belts breaking.

[Disco Matt]

4, snap a belt on your v8 and its 2 heads gone on a deisel its only one

snap a belt on your diesel its a head gone...snap a CHAIN on a v8....well...exactly!

thats one of the reasons why i bought mine. if u got a diesel ur going to need zues cogs to solve the problems of belts breaking.

I think Zeus timing gear kits are rather more expensive than an engine rebuild, at least, they were last time I looked! Just change the belt at the recommended intervals and it shouldn't be a problem unless you do daft things like revving it flat out.

[muddydisco]

Loved my V8 but the chassis went quicker than the motor

[mentalmoshio sophs V8i]

  

[CNorman]

for what it's worth, here's my opinion....I have a v8i ES model (the heavy one with all the bits), and i can outrun any diesel especially uphill and when towing something (like a large caravan) up a long motorway hill, you won't find a faster or less stressed 4x4.

OK diesels are cheaper to run but over 100 miles it will cost you about £5 more in a v8i (3.9), and you will be able to hear the stereo.
the other things to consider are that a diesel needs servicing more than a v8 and the v8 is the strongest engine.

easy to work on and reliable, the v8's are cheaper to buy, generally have half the mileage, and you don't upset the neighbours when you come home late.

the v8 'rock' can't be beat and most of the parts are cheaper than diesels, and above all the v8 drivers have a saying....."if you can't afford a proper engine, get a tractor"

and finally, what you have is working fine, by the time you sell it and lose money, then buy a diesel with more miles and unknown problems (let's face it if it was that good, they wouldn't be selling it), then you save a couple of quid each day in fuel, how many miles would you need to do just to break even.
do yourself a favor, stick with what you have and save yourself a load of grief.

sorry diesel drivers.........good comprimise, but it will never be as good as a v8.

(that'll stir it up)
Gary. :lol:

Your welcome to say what ever you want. V8's are more fun to certain people but judging by your idea you really are a clueless chap :roll:

The diesels are nothing like you state!, heres a novel idea, why dont you drive one :dance:

And dont tell me you "have loadsa experiance etc etc" because from your comments you dont...

[Mr Alford]

seems to be a well sided debate so far, people who have v8's either love them or hate them
the 3.9v8 block is unfortunately pourous but that will only make a difference over 20 years i.e the older it is the weaker it gets

my partner had before this a range rover p38 4.0v8 and i drov to cardiff and back and it cost me £130 in fuel what a joke i waded it once and it coughed and spluttered its designed to be a chelsea tractor and tow a horse box and not venture offroad

i have a 200tdi ive had a 300tdi and i much prefer the 200, its a genuine workhorse which is a little easier to work on and loves going underwater, servicing it takes me less than half an hour and i do this once every 3 months so again no skin off my nose im probably getting about 25mpg on normal run and 30-35 ona  motorway run but thats nothing to set the world on fire

the ease to fit everything on a diesel over the v8 is far superior in my opinion i have seen far too many v8's much newer than mine stranded by the side of the road with either an oil leak or theyve over heated because the noise the engine gives off the owner thinks hes driving a shelby mustang

anyway cut a long story short i love the 200tdi and would never part with it :dance:

[L90OOK]

A well looked after 200tdi with a few mods & tweaks will give you all the power you need....& still you will be returning 30+mpg in a disco.  Run it on veg oil at 66pence per litre & you are onto a winner    Also there are plenty of spares for these floating around the market.
You don't have to waterproof everything before you go near a puddle.  :twisted:
As for the sound nice V8 sound....are you going to listen to it or drive it?  IMHO my Td5 90 (chipped & straight through pipe) sounded better than most V8's  :shock:   8-[  :hurryup: :-'

[mentalmoshio sophs V8i]

66 pence per littre that dear.

how do u fancy 4 gallons for a tenner, think u know them L9000K

aye lad 

[L90OOK]

66 pence per littre that dear.

how do u fancy 4 gallons for a tenner, think u know them L9000K

aye lad 

know who??

[Jake]

66 pence per littre that dear.

how do u fancy 4 gallons for a tenner, think u know them L9000K

aye lad 

know who??

At that price, i want to know them too
 :lol:

[mentalmoshio sophs V8i]

try asking xtremeteam where and what there using  :-k :dance:

[L90OOK]

try asking xtremeteam then and its not red diesel like i thought  :dance:

ask him what?